Improvement in apparatus for closing barrels and casks



MDW Y ADOLPH KOEGLER.

Apparatus for Ciosing Barrels andCasks. N0l 122,177 1;? Patentednec.26,1871. i

PATENT OEEIGE.

ADoLrH KoEeLER, or NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

IMPROVEMENT |N APPARATUS FOR CLOSING BARRELS AND CASKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 122,177, dated December 26, 1871.

Specication describing' a certain Improved Apparatus for Opening and Closing BeerBar 'rels and Casks and Injecting Finings, Sto., in-

vented by ADoLPH KOEGLER, of Newark, in theA county of Esser` and State of N ew Jersey.

Figure l represents a side view, partly in section, of my improved apparatus. Figs. 2 and 3 are detail vertical sections on an enlarged scale This invention has for its object to provide an apparatus for removing barrel -taps, injecting into the barrels suitable liquid or matter, and then reclosing the barrels. In breweries and other places it frequently occurs that the barrels Vcontaining fresh or other beer, ale, or beverage, should, after having been closed for a speciiied term, be reopened and charged with liquids,-

gases, or @'flningsj whereby their quality is improved or their character nally determined. My invention consists in the new arrangement of a portable apparatus whereby the tap can be forced into the barrels, a connection established be tween the opened barrels and an injecting-pump,

and the barrels finally retapped. The device is also constructedwith the view of permitting the escape of gases or liquor from the barrels if desired.

Ain the drawing represents a block of suitable shape perforated horizontally and vertically through the middle. Through its horizontal opening is iitted a conical plug, B, which intercepts the vertical passage a, as shown in Fig. 2. The conical plug B has a transverse passage, I), which can be brought in line with the verticalpassage a of the block A, as in Fig. 3, in which case a plunger, G, which enters the upper end of et, can be forced clear through the plug and block. When, however, the plug is turned, as in Fig. 2, to bring the passage b in a horizontal position, the plunger GV will be confined in the upper part of the passage a.r The plug B has a handle, d, by means of which it can be turned into the two positions above referred to. The bloekA has preferably an elastic washer 4or plate, e, secured to its bottom, around the lower end ofthe passage a, to make it set tight on the barrel. From one end ofthe plug B projects a pipe, f, which communicates with the passage b, and containsa cock,

The other end of the plug B connects with an elastic tube, D, which extends to a pump, E. The tubeD communicates with a passa-ge, h, of the plug, that terminates in line with the passage a when. the plug is turned to brin g the passage b at right angles to a, as in Fig.,2.. The pump E has its suction-pipe lF connected with a vessel, G, containing the matter to be injected. The block A is intended to be sufficiently heavy to remain on the barrel even against the pressure of the contents of the same. But to make sure, and also to facilitate handling, I prefer to attach it to slide H, moving on arod, I, and connected with a lever, J, vby which the block can be easily lifted and held down.

The operation is as follows: The block is placed over thel tap of a barrel, -L,.to be opened so that the axis of the passage a will be directly in line with the center of the tap. The plug is then turned, as in Fig. 3, and the plunger forced down to thereby drive the tap into 'thebarreh opening the latter. The plunger is then elevated to clear the plug B, which can be' retained in position if it is desired to discharge some of the contents of the barrel, in which case the'- cock g is opened. When sufficient has been or nothing is to be discharged, the plug B is turned to connect the passage h with the lower part of a,as in Fig. 2. The

pump is then set 'in motion and suitable matter injected within the barrel for improving the quality of its contents. Meanwhile a new tap is,

lthrough a hole in the side of the block A, put 4 into the passage bof B. When the injection has been completed th plug is once more turned to bring the passageb containing the tap in line with a, and the plunger againforced down to drive the newftap home and reelose the barrel.

The block A can then be removed from the barrel and applied to another. In places where the rather heavy block A cannot be conveniently handled I propose using the modification shownv in Figs. 5 and 6. In theseI have abox, M, havl ing a hole, a, in its bottom, and containing a perforated slide, N, in placev of the plug B. The plunger C fits the cover j of the box. The tube D connects with the side of the box. The slide containing in its opening the new tap is moved clear 'of the plunger to let the old tap beV driven the slide is moved under the plunger, closing the into 'thev barrel and the pump be operated; then 'and connected with the tube D and pipe f, substantially as'herein shown and described.-

3; The apparatus as herein described for applying the new tap Within the aperture b of the plug or slide, so that by the same motion of the plug or slide which shuts the injection-tube the tap is brought under the plunger, as specified.

4. The block A attached to a slide, H, which is operated by a lever, J, substantially as herein shown and described.

VNiitness'es: ADOLPH KOEGLER.

P. HAvENsTEIN, ALEX. HAvENsTEIN. 

